Southern Steam - Gravesend Central to Allhallows

The Hundred of Hoo Railway had been opened by the South Eastern in 1882 to capitalise on the anticiated growth of Port Victoria on the Isle of Grain into a major continental port in competition with the rival London Chatham & Dover Railway's operations on the Isle of Sheppey. This never materialised, although the line was to prove worthwhile as local industry, particularly the manufacture of cement and later the oil terminal at Grain, developed. An extension to Allhallows was opened in 1932, the Southern Railway hoping to benefit from the potential of the location as a new seaside resort for Londoners in North Kent. The Allhallows line diverged between Middle Stoke and Grain Crossing Halts and terminated a quarter of a mile from the seashore, almost directly opposite Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex. The new line proved a success until the outbreak of the second world war, and the line was never to recover in the frugal years after peace returned. The Hundred of Hoo Railway became freight only in 1961, at which point the branch to Allhallows was closed.

This film begins at Gravesend Central on the North Kent line where we see a former South Eastern & Chatham Railway C Class 0-6-0 taking on water. We see a typical service comprised of an ex-SECR H Class 0-4-4T on a push pull train, before embarking on an excursion headed by a BRCW Type 3 (later BR Class 33) 'Crompton' diesel. We leave the Chatham main line at Hoo Junction and proceed to Cliffe, a substantial station which opened with the line to Port Victoria in 1882, we pass Halstow Halt, exchange the token at Sharnal Street, and proceed to Stoke Junction Halt which appeared in 1932 when the branch to Allhallows-on-Sea opened. Originally the branch from Stoke Junction was single track, but it was doubled in 1935, and singled again in 1957. Finally, we arrive at the terminus. As has been previously stated the line, after showing initial promise, was not a success after the war as the expected residential and seasonal growth never materialised. Ironically, the site of station is now beneath part of a recent and popular development, the Kingsmead mobile home park.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• southern
• british
• rail
• railway
• railways
• steam
• south
• eastern
• chatham
• allhallows
• hundred of hoo
• middle stoke
• Grain Crossing
• gravesend

[mynewschannel]

Didn't even know there was a line going to Allhallows. I remember the West Street line, used to walk it out to Longfield :)

[1962gmt]

Its such a shame this has all gone!, iv watched this clip over and over and its hard to believe that this service was taken from the area, i lived in the Hoo area back in 1964 to 1966, such a shame!!

[dauntz88]

It is ironic - the isle of grain is now having a huge population boost with new homes and leisure faccs. Medway Metropolitan Borough Council lay on a fleet of 17 Double Deck busses EVERY school day to take Grainer' Kids to the schools in the central medway.

And yet, no-one seems to suggest re-opening the railway! All those busses could be replaced by 2 or 3 trains! 6 staff, as opposed to 17!

Its about time some one made a stand on this chronically obscene waste of money. Over to you Kent...

[Richydoes]

Wonderful memories. We had a little caravan opposite platform 2 in the field in 1954-57. I can still remember seeing different coloured carriages, the SR green, maroon LMS and the odd Cream & Rhubarb. My older brother & I played for hours on the turntable at the end of our field and sometimes got to stand in a train cab!

[crompton33001]

5* Solid Gold Footage :-)

[catflap79]

please post more, these are great!!! Where do they come from?????